Jeremy Corbyn demanded Theresa May call a general election today to break the deadlock over Brexit if she loses a showdown vote on Tuesday.

The Labour leader said if as expected Mrs May's deal is crushed by MPs next week she must go to the country so a new government has a mandate to end the crisis.

Mr Corbyn has faced demands from many of his MPs and the SNP to call a vote of no confidence in the Government - which if he won would start a countdown to an election.

But in his Brexit speech today he refused again to set out when he would call a vote - insisting still it would only happen 'at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success'.

And in a warning to Labour activists demanded a second referendum, Mr Corbyn warned they could not 'wish away' the votes of 17 million Brexit supporters.

Without a confidence vote, the only way an election can be held is if Mrs May calls for one and gets a two-thirds majority of MPs to back it.

If an election is held, it is likely that Article 50 – the process that enables a nation to leave the EU – would have to be extended to allow campaigning and time for new negotiations with Brussels.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today in Wakefield) demanded Theresa May call a general election today to break the deadlock over Brexit

In a warning to Labour activists demanded a second referendum, Mr Corbyn said they could not 'wish away' the votes of 17 million Brexit supporters

Mr Corbyn (pictured as he started his speech today) has faced demands from many of his MPs and the SNP to call a vote of no confidence in the Government - which if he won would start a countdown to an election

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Yesterday, shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said earlier that he doubted whether the process of leaving could be completed by March 29 if MPs rejected Theresa May's deal next week.

May backs Labour plan to protect worker rights and the environment after Brexit

The Government has confirmed it will back moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers' rights after Brexit in an attempt to win support for the deal.

The backbench amendment would require Britain to at least match EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, plus environmental standards.

The Government would be obliged to 'consider' any new laws on these standards passed by the EU after Brexit.

John Mann, one of the Labour MPs behind the amendment, said Government backing for the proposal could make the Prime Minister's plan 'more attractive'.

'If we have a guarantee that works on workers' rights and conditions, that's significant,' he told the Daily Mirror.

Sir Keir has reportedly warned Corbyn that a second referendum might be the only way to prevent the government steering Britain on a crash course towards no-deal.

Mr Corbyn said the real divide is not between Leave and Remain voters, but 'between the many, who do the work, create the wealth and pay taxes, and the few, who set the rules, reap the rewards and so often dodge taxes'.

Speaking today at in Wakefield, he said: 'Let there be no doubt – Theresa May's deal is a bad deal, and Labour will vote against it next week in parliament.

'If the Government cannot pass its most important legislation, then there must be a general election at the earliest opportunity.

'A government that cannot get its business through the House of Commons is no government at all.

'So I say to Theresa May, if you are so confident in your deal, call that election and let the people decide. To break the deadlock, an election is not only the most practical option, it is also the most democratic option.

The Labour leader said if as expected Mrs May's (pictured yesterday at PMQs) deal is crushed by MPs next week she must go to the country so a new government has a mandate to end the crisis

'It would give the winning party a renewed mandate to negotiate a better deal for Britain and secure support for it in Parliament and across the country.

'For both sides, the EU referendum was about so much more than our relationship with our biggest trading partner and its rules. It was about what's happened to our people over decades and how to build a better future.'

But frustrating his critics again, Mr Corbyn added: 'Labour will table a motion of no confidence in the government at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success.

'Clearly, Labour does not have enough MPs in parliament to win a confidence vote on its own. 'So members across the House should vote with us to break the deadlock.'

Yesterday, shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer (pictured today in Wakefield) said earlier that he doubted whether the process of leaving could be completed by March 29 if MPs rejected Theresa May 's deal next week

Mr Corbyn's call comes amid confusion about whether Labour will put forward a motion of no confidence next week after the expected Commons defeat of the Government's deal.

Barry Gardiner, Labour's international trade spokesman, suggested that such a motion would be tabled immediately after a defeat on Tuesday.

But party sources said they were not saying when they would table it, merely stating it was a question of 'when not if'. Sources also said Labour was not yet pressing for an extension to Article 50.

He said: 'We can't do it on 29 March. It's not viable, for so many practical reasons.

'So we're going to have to look at what are the available options realistically still on the table, and what are the merits of each.'

What Brexit options could MPs vote on now May's deal has failed?

More than half a dozen Cabinet ministers are pushing for Parliament to vote on 'options' for how to proceed if Theresa May's deal fails.

Here are some of the possibilities that could be considered:

NORWAY PLUS

MPs from across parties have been mooting the idea of a Norway model.

It would effectively keep the UK in the single market, with a customs bolt-on to avoid a hard Irish border, and backers say it would keep Britain close to the EU while cutting contributions to Brussels.

However, critics say it has the drawbacks of keeping free movement, - and tightly limiting the possibilities for doing trade deals elsewhere.

The EU is also thought to have concerns about a country the UK's size joining the EEA, while other states in the group might be resistant.

SECOND REFERENDUM

The so-called 'People's Vote' campaign has been pushing hard for another national vote, with cross-party backing.

MPs would almost certainly want to be asked to back the idea in principle.

The Article 50 process would probably need to be extended to facilitate a referendum, but the EU seems open to that possibility.

However, the biggest problem is likely to be that even if the Commons can agree on holding a vote, they will be be completely split over the question.

Some want it to be a rerun of 2016 with Remain v Leave. Others say it should be May's deal against no deal.

There are also those who support two rounds of voting, or multiple choice.

CANADA PLUS

Brexiteers have been demanding the UK takes a different approach this time, seeking a looser Canada-style arrangement with the EU.

The arrangement they want would be a relatively clean break from the EU, with the ability to strike trade agreements elsewhere.

But it would fall far short of the low-friction access urged by Labour and large numbers of Tories.

MANAGED NO DEAL

Brexiteers have been floating a 'managed' no deal which could feature in the votes.

It would involve the UK offering the EU billions of pounds to secure a transition period, even if there is no wider deal.